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Exxon Mobil, the largest U.S. oil company, reported a 52 percent drop in profit for the second quarter. Revenue dropped by a third and the profits of its exploration and production businesses declined 74 percent, to $2 billion.

The initial investigation of the incident that put a gash in the Finnish icebreaker hired by Shell suggests -- but does not conclude -- that a previously uncharted Unalaska Bay shoal was to blame.Yereth Rosen

The regulations, if they survive the expected legal challenges, could shut down hundreds of coal-fired power plants and create a boom in the production of renewable energy.CORAL DAVENPORT and GARDINER HARRIS

One protester, Christian Pence, 19, refused to leave the Willamette River after being told the waterway was closed Thursday afternoon, then assaulted a deputy who tried to remove him from the water, authorities said.Associated Press

The Transocean Polar Pioneer began drilling late Thursday afternoon at Royal Dutch Shell's Burger prospect in the Chukchi Sea, according to company officials. Shell is allowed to drill the upper, non-hydrocarbon-bearing zone without its icebreaker present.Yereth Rosen

Authorities moved protesters from a bridge and from the Willamette River on Thursday after they temporarily prevented a Royal Dutch Shell icebreaker from leaving dry dock and joining an Arctic oil-drilling operation.Hal Bernton, Evan Bush | The Seattle Times

Authorities forced protesters in kayaks from a river Thursday in Portland, Oregon, where the demonstrators were trying to stop a Royal Dutch Shell icebreaker from leaving dry dock and joining an Arctic oil drilling operation.Hal Bernton,Evan Bush,Yereth Rosen

Alaska Sen. Lisa Murkowski, chairman of the committee, championed the bill, which passed by a party-line vote of 12-10. She said lifting the ban would turn the U.S. into an energy superpower.Kevin Freking | Associated Press